Dr. Arthur E. Thomas (2015) - Hall of Fame - Central State University Athletics

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Dr. Arthur E. Thomas

Class

1962
Induction

2015
Sport(s)

Administrator

Dr. Arthur E. Thomas has dedicated his entire adult life and career toward championing the cause of the poor, the oppressed, and the denied. He has, at great personal sacrifice, fought all forms of injustices at the local, state, and federal levels. A 1962 graduate of Central State University, Dr. Thomas has worked as an elementary and high school teacher, as well as, a football and track coach. He has also taught and directed advocacy programs. At the university level, he has served as Vice President and President at Central State University. He served on the Historically Black College and University Presidential Advisory Board of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton. Dr. Thomas served for 12 consecutive years, never faltering in his advocacy for poor and denied people.

Dr. Thomas was selected by President Clinton to be an official U.S. representative to the first democratic elections in South Africa. During his tenure as President at Central State University, he awarded 123 full scholarships to African students from 23 African countries. Ten students were recipients from South Africa in fulfillment of a commitment to the Honorable Nelson Mandela.

During Dr. Thomas' presidency, Central State University had a record enrollment of more than 3,200 students; developed a four-year undergraduate International Water Resources Management Program; established a four-year fully accredited Manufacturing Engineering Program; re-established the Master's Degree in Education; an emphasized the African Studies Program; and developed a model Linguistics Program. In addition he directed the university's internationally renowned Convocation series which also was promoted the University through a PBS television series and book, "Like It Is." In the area of student development, Dr. Thomas was instrumental strengthening the award winning Invincible Marching Marauders and the Grammy nominated University Chorus and in the success of the athletic department. During his tenure, Central State won two football national NAIA championships, eight women's national NAIA track championships, two men's national NAIA track championship, and women's basketball teams also won eight district basketball championships and participated in the national NAIA Tournament eight times. In addition to numerous athletic honorees and award winners, Central State student-athletes also included participants in national and international competition including the Olympics, highlighted by Olympic Gold Medalist Deon Hemmings'1996 performance in the 400-meter hurdles.

Dr. Thomas is proud of his determined efforts to provide access to a college education to the poor as well as to those who have been victimized by racist and inadequate public school systems. He received the Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Education Association as well as awards from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and the National Council of Negro Women. Dr. Thomas earned his Master's in Education from Miami University (Ohio), and his doctoral degree in Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Dr. Thomas has received honorary degrees from Shaw College, Capital University, and his Alma Mater, Central State University. Dr. Thomas recently received an outstanding Leadership Award from NAFEO (the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) for his leadership and courage at Central State University and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Delta Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He also is a member of the CSU Alumni Hall of Fame and most recently was inducted into the 2012 National Black College Hall of Fame and received its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additionally, Dr. Thomas served as the Director of the Kellogg Foundation-funded NAFEO Kellogg Leadership Fellows Program and as the Program Manager for the California State University San Bernardino Integrated Technology Transfer Network Program at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. More recently, he has served as the Senior Administrative Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in Bioenvironmental Science, School of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences at Morgan State University. Currently, Dr. Thomas is serving as a NAFEO Presidential Fellow and working to developing programs and engaging in the resolution of problems confronting HBCUs. Dr. Thomas is also working to develop a HBCU Consortium to offer undergraduate degrees to incarcerated men and women of color during the period of their incarceration.

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